Buyers express interest in old Bishop McDevitt High School

School left vacant when new building opened last fall

Thousands of students graduated from the old Bishop McDevitt High School, which was left vacant when a new school opened last fall.

Harrisburg City Council said there are people interested in the property, and half a dozen others across the city, if they are put into a proposed Keystone Opportunity Expansion Zone.

City Council received a list of properties the administration wants to exempt from property taxes, earned income taxes and three other taxes to get development in unproductive areas.

"We want to redevelop as much property as we can, but at the same time, we need to make sure that in the redevelopment process that we have real estate taxes that are being paid," said Council member Susan Brown-Wilson.

Brown-Wilson's redevelopment committee will hold public hearings in the coming weeks on the Keystone Opportunity Expansion Zone proposals.

But Brown-Wilson said tax-exempt properties already exceed 50 percent and that fewer than 30 percent of city properties pay property and business taxes.

"We're in a constant battle against the West Shore, against Hershey and other places that have free parking and lower square footage," said Council member Brad Koplinski.

Koplinski said the city has to fight to bring businesses and customers to Harrisburg. But like his colleague, Koplinski will review businesses and listening to people who want to relocate into a Keystone Opportunity Expansion Zone and keep the city's best interest in mind as well.

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